Midwinter Swimmers

Midwinter Swimmers
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 29, 2024 (2024-11-29)
Label
The Innocence Mission chronology
See You Tomorrow
(2020)
Midwinter Swimmers
(2024)
Singles from Midwinter Swimmers
  1. "This Thread Is a Green Street"
    Released: September 3, 2024
  2. "Midwinter Swimmers"
    Released: October 16, 2024

Midwinter Swimmers is the upcoming thirteenth studio album by American alternative rock band The Innocence Mission, set to be released on November 25, 2024, by Bella Union in Europe and by Thérèse Records in the United States and Canada.

Composition and style

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Snowdrop flowers inspired the lyrical content of the song "Midwinter Swimmers".

Every song on the album was composed by Karen Peris, except "This Thread Is a Green Street", which was written by Karen alongside her husband Don.[1] Karen said the lyric of that song was inspired by the "transportive quality" of objects found in the "natural world", explaining that a "sewing thread when I'm mending something could remind me of a street map." She said that while writing the song, she was "envisioning the landscape as a world of doorways that might allow us to locate memory, or to be nearer in some way to people we miss." Karen related this lyrical concept to the song's recording, explaining that the band were seeking to "find the half-remembered beauty of sing-alongs of our 1970s childhoods."[2]

Karen said the song "Midwinter Swimmers" was about "looking ahead to the arrival of a loved and dear person". She said the contrast between the two words in the title reminded her of how "fragile-looking, small and pale winter flowers like snowdrops are actually so hardy and enduring that they can bloom in the snow. And this seemed to connect also with the bravery of the person who has been away."[3]

Release and promotion

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"This Thread Is a Green Street" was released as a one-track digital download and streaming single on September 3, 2024.[2][4] Karen directed a music video for the song, which was released the same day.[5] The title track was issued as the album's second single on October 16. Karen also created a music video for that song.[3] Midwinter Swimmers will be released on November 29, 2024, by Bella Union in Europe, and by Thérèse Records in the United States and Canada.[1]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Karen Peris except track 1, written by Karen and Don Peris.[1] Track lengths derived from the album's listing at Amazon Music.[6]

Midwinter Swimmers
No.TitleLength
1."This Thread Is a Green Street"3:46
2."Midwinter Swimmers"2:56
3."The Camera Divides the Coast of Maine"3:44
4."John Williams"3:42
5."We Would Meet in Center City"3:43
6."Your Saturday Picture"2:58
7."Cloud to Cloud"4:40
8."A Hundred Flowers"3:05
9."Sisters and Brothers"3:09
10."Orange of the Westering Sun"4:24
11."A Different Day"3:35

References

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  1. ^ a b c Breihan, Tom (September 3, 2024). "The Innocence Mission – 'This Thread Is A Green Street'". Stereogum. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Pearis, Bill (September 3, 2024). "The Innocence Mission announce new album, share "This Thread Is A Green Street"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Pearis, Bill (October 16, 2024). "Watch The Innocence Mission's animated video for 'Midwinter Swimmers'". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  4. ^ Bonner, Michael (September 4, 2024). "the innocence mission share new track, 'This Thread Is a Green Street'". Uncut. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  5. ^ Parkinson, Richard (September 5, 2024). "The Innocence Mission to issue first album in four years". Americana UK. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  6. ^ "Amazon.com: Midwinter Swimmers : The Innocence Mission". Amazon Music. Retrieved October 17, 2024.